Pink Stitch 2026
Hand stitching as a way to process, connect, and create, for people living with and beyond breast cancer.
About
Pink Stitch is a participatory textile arts programme for people living with and beyond breast cancer.
Running throughout 2026, it brings together people across the UK for a series of creative sessions guided by specialist textile artist Emily Jo Gibbs.
At the heart of it is English paper piecing, a slow, meditative form of hand stitching that requires no prior experience. For many participants, the act of making something beautiful by hand offers a way to process their cancer journey that words alone can't reach.
In June, July & August we hosted online sessions, where participants from anywhere in the UK joined us for guided group stitching, connection, and conversation. In September and October we hosted in-person stitching sessions in London, where we stitched the rosettes together into one giant collective quilt.
This autumn, you can see the final quilt at the exhibition Pieces of our Journey: An English Paper Piecing Quilt made by People with Breast Cancer, on show at The Art Workers’ Guild in London.
“CAYR doesn’t just help individuals, they support families and friends to heal together as a community, so no one has to go through a cancer journey alone.”
Sign Up for In-Person Stitching Sessions
In September and October we will host in-person stitching workshops at The Art Workers’ Guild to stitch together your rosettes.
While each and every rosette that makes up the quilt will be hand-made by someone living with or beyond breast cancer, the quilt itself is also a way for us to raise awareness and share the stories and experiences of those already affected.
These workshops are designed so anyone, whether they have had breast cancer or not, can come and help us stitch and be part of conversations on breast cancer, art and community.
Upcoming Dates:
13th October, 10am-4pm
19th October, 10am-12pm
Location:
The Art Workers’ Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
This exhibition is the culmination of Pink Stitch 2026, a participatory textile arts programme for people with lived experiences of breast cancer, delivered by Cayr Charity in collaboration with textile artist Emily Jo Gibbs.
24.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
The Art Worker’s Guild,
London, WC1N 3AT
How it works
Pink Stitch is built around slowing down. Here's how it works.
receive your packEverything you need arrives at your door
After signing up you’ll receive templates and a step-by-step guide to your doorstep. You choose your own fabric and paper backing for your rosette, something personal to you.
You stitch in your own timeEnglish paper piecing is slow and meditative
You don’t need prior experience. Stitch at home, at your own pace, with three guided group Zoom sessions through June, July and August for connection and conversation.
be part of something biggerCommunal Quilting
In October 2026, we bring all the rosettes together in London to join them into one giant collective quilt, publicly exhibited as a lasting record of every woman who took part.
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Your pack arrives in a slim cardboard box designed to fit through your letterbox, no need to be in. Inside you'll find everything you need to get started, plus a prepaid return label to send your finished rosette back to us.
Please keep the box, it reseals, and that's how your artwork travels home to become part of the quilt.
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A printed introduction to the programme, the process, and what happens next.
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Pre-cut hexagonal paper pieces to use as your backing templates, the foundation of your rosette.
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You'll receive a private code to access a dedicated page on our website, where you'll find Emily Jo Gibbs' step-by-step stitching video and a creative writing video to work alongside your making.
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We'd love you to choose your own, something personal, meaningful, or simply beautiful to you. A charity shop is a wonderful place to find something. If you really can't source fabric yourself, please get in touch before we send your box and we can include some for you.
Your Pink Stitch Pack
Thank you to Pukka Tea for your support of this project.
In each kit sent out, there will be a Pukka Tea herbal teabag so you can stitch and relax with a beverage courtesy of Pukka Tea.
Meet the Team
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None of this would have been possible without the support of our textile artist, Emily Jo Gibbs.
Emily Jo Gibbs is a British artist whose practice is rooted in making.
She specialises in hand-stitched appliqué, layering and meticulously stab-stitching silk organza onto linen. Championing the value of making, she is drawn to the idea that by taking the time to slowly describe someone in stitch, you convey your admiration.
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Lilly is our project manager for the year and will be running creative writing.
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Hannah is our CEO and will be working on the project as a Producer
Pink stitch 2025 - gallery
Make a Donation
Every rosette in the quilt represents a woman who needed space to process, connect, and create. Your donation helps us make sure that space exists, and stays free.
